Kaiser Permanente income limits
| Household size | Free care: yearly income up to 200% | Discounts: yearly income up to 400% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $31,920 | $63,840 |
| 2 people | $43,280 | $86,560 |
| 3 people | $54,640 | $109,280 |
| 4 people | $66,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 people | $77,360 | $154,720 |
| 6 people | $88,720 | $177,440 |
- Free care
- Up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines: about $66,000 a year for a family of four in 2026.The policy says: “0% - 200% 100% Discount (Full)” (page 33 (Northern California addendum))
- Discounts
- Up to 400% of the guidelines: about $132,000 a year for a family of four.The policy says: “Income criteria: up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.” (page 32 (Northern California addendum))
- Sliding scale
- Northern and Southern California: 201% to 400% may get 50% off. Northwest (Oregon): 201% to 300% may get 75% off, 301% to 350% 50% off and 351% to 400% 25% off.
- With insurance
- Eligible patients with coverage may get help with what insurance leaves, such as copays, coinsurance and deductibles. They must give documentation such as an Explanation of Benefits, appeal denied claims to the insurer, and sign over insurer payments. (Policy, pages 15, 16 and 17.)
- Savings and assets
- Savings and other assets are not counted.
- Large bills
- A patient at any income whose paid and unpaid bills for eligible services in the 12 months before applying are 10% or more of annual household income may be eligible for full financial assistance.
How to apply for Kaiser Permanente financial assistance
- Without a full application
- Some patients may be approved without a full application.
- Time to apply
- At least 240 days after the first bill sent after care.The policy says: “The patient has been provided at least 240 days from the first billing statement to apply for MFA.” (page 22)
- How to apply
- Apply online on your region’s Medical Financial Assistance web page, by telephone with a counselor, by mailing a paper application, or in person at admitting, emergency, patient financial advisor or registration staff. Household size and income are required; income documents are optional unless Kaiser asks for them.
- Differences by state
- The limit is 400% in Northern California, Southern California and Oregon, and 300% in Washington, Hawaii, Colorado, Georgia and the Mid-Atlantic states. In Washington, 201% to 250% may get 75% off and 251% to 300% 50% off; in Hawaii, Colorado, Georgia and the Mid-Atlantic states, 201% to 300% may get 50% off. The policy applies to Kaiser clinics and pharmacies in every region but to hospitals only in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
- Also good to know
- Kaiser emergency physicians in Northern California are also required by law to provide discounts to uninsured patients or patients with high medical costs at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. The Northern California policy read is the 2025 version and the Northwest addendum is newer (effective April 15, 2026), so newer versions may exist.
Common questions about Kaiser Permanente financial assistance
What is the income limit for Kaiser Permanente financial assistance?
Kaiser Permanente’s policy lists free care up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and discounts up to 400%. With the 2026 guidelines for the 48 states and Washington, DC, that is for free care, a yearly income up to about $31,920 for one person and $66,000 for a family of four; for discounts, a yearly income up to about $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four. The policy has differences by state or hospital, so check it for your hospital. Kaiser Permanente decides from its own application; only the hospital can confirm what you may get.
How do I apply for Kaiser Permanente financial assistance?
Apply online on your region’s Medical Financial Assistance web page, by telephone with a counselor, by mailing a paper application, or in person at admitting, emergency, patient financial advisor or registration staff. Household size and income are required; income documents are optional unless Kaiser asks for them. Time to apply: At least 240 days after the first bill sent after care.
Source
Kaiser Permanente Medical Financial Assistance policy, NATL.CB.307, with regional addenda, In effect January 1, 2025; this version published June 11, 2025. Read with AI reading tools on November 1, 2026, and checked by a second one against the same document. There is also a plain language summary.
We are not part of Kaiser Permanente. Policies change, and the hospital decides from its own form. If what you read here differs from the current policy, the policy counts.
Ask in writing
The free financial assistance letter asks the hospital for its policy, the application and the plain language summary. Already paid? How applying after you have already paid works. Compare other systems on the hospital list.
Have insurance? See what 38 policies say about patients with insurance.
In California? Find your hospital by name or town (363 California hospitals).
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In Washington? Find your hospital by name or town (97 Washington hospitals).
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Check the bill itself
Financial assistance may lower what you owe, but it does not look at the charges. Open your bill in MedBillCheckup: it is read on your device, never uploaded, and the free check shows how many things are worth asking the billing office about, and names the first. The full list, with the exact questions to ask, is $6.99 for one bill, or included with Pro at $9.99 a month.
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